Howard was born in Townsend, July 18, 1916, to Wilton and Clara (Isaacson) Ehrhardt. He attended school in Wabeno and Gillett before going to work on the family farm. On April 14, 1945, he married Joyce Schroder at St. John's Lutheran Church in Townsend. They then moved to Lena for a few years before moving back to Wabeno. While living in Wabeno, Howard worked for Connor Forest Industries. One morning, after an especially rainy night, the "chicken coop" style company house that they were living in developed a wet floor in the kitchen. When he walked into the kitchen in the morning and his bare feet discovered the cold, wet floor, Howard proclaimed that he would "move south until he found another job!" Howard found a job with Dynamatic in Kenosha and so he family moved to Kenosha. They lived there for 24 years before coming back to Wabeno, when in 1971, they built and started "The Safari Motel". They operated that until selling it in 1997. Howard enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, and hunting. He was also a caring person who served his community as a member of the Rescue Squad, the Fire Department, the Trinity Lutheran Church Choir, and the groomer driver for the 100 Mile Snow Safari. Howard will always be known for his "pack ratting", "putzing", and "goofing" around. Most important to Howard, though, was his family and numerous friends.
He is survived by wife, Joyce; two daughters, Janet (Richard) Morris and Eileen (Robert) Fryman of Wabeno; five grandchildren, Rebecca (Marshall) of Laona; Connie (Louis) Beth Wabeno; DeWayne (Karen) Reeves of Grand Forks, ND; Robin (Glenn) Cole of Dayton, OH; and Darlene Morris of Wabeno; one sister, Florence Seibert of White Lake; two brothers, Orville (Mickey) of Battle Creek, Ml and Earl of Little Chute; 14 great-grandchildren, Justin, Brian, Crystal, Andrew, Danielle, Alyssa, Taylor, Cassandra, Denise, Louis James, Lillian, Jared, Logan and Brett; other relatives and friends.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents; three siblings, Wells, Birdella, and Bernice; a sister-in-law, Dorothy; and a brother-in-law, Marvin.
The funeral was held Monday, November 15 at his church with the Rev. Craig Korth leading the services. Interment at Forest Home Cemetery in Townsend. Pallbearers were Marshall Lafferty, Louis Bath, Glenn Cole, DeWayne Reeves, Louis Bath and Brian Lafferty. S. Suminski Funeral Home, 19 Wabeno, served the family.